Cops to probe alleged weapons distribution in SE St Andrew
THE police will be asked to investigate allegations of weapons distribution in the St Andrew South-Eastern constituency, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair announced yesterday.
The announcement followed a meeting with the political representatives of the constituency, which was called as part of efforts at ending intimidation and rising political tension in the troubled Corporate Area constituency.
The decision to call in the police was one of four which the Jamaica Labour Party’s Joan Gordon-Webley and the People’s National Party’s Maxine Henry-Wilson agreed to during the meeting with Blair at his Kingston office.
They also agreed to:
. Walk through the constituency with Peace Management Initiative members;
. The involvement of both candidates in public forums; and
. Cease personal verbal attacks.
The allegation of gun distribution, plus the intimidation of supporters of both political parties were among the items discussed at the meeting convened to find efforts to lower the political temperature in the constituency.
Other issues brought to the table were the inappropriate use and display of graffiti/flyers/flags in the constituency, and the continued name-calling and personal verbal attack of political candidates.
Bishop Blair was unavailable yesterday, but Leona Simms, office administrator at the Office of Political Ombudsman said the discussions were open and frank. “Persons shared their views freely about their take on the situation in the constituency,” Simms told the Observer.
She said both sides agreed that the Ombudsman’s Office would be the only one authorised to give information about the meeting.
Bishop Blair, in a statement issued after the meeting, said the discussions were fruitful.
He commended both candidates for the initiative towards a peaceful resolution of the challenges faced by the constituency.
Simms said no date has been set for a follow-up meeting, but said “the Office of the Ombudsman was confident that if the decisions taken are followed the tension in the constituency should be quelled”.
